Financial Information

Financial Information

Management's Accountability

Management's Accountability

Report of Management's Accountability

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. Management is responsible for ensuring that these statements, which include amounts based upon estimates and judgment, are consistent with other information and operating data contained in the annual financial review and reflect the corporation's business transactions and financial position.

Management is also responsible for the information disclosed in the management’s discussion and analysis including responsibility for the existence of appropriate information systems, procedures and controls to ensure that the information used internally by management and disclosed externally is complete and reliable in all material respects.

In addition, management is responsible for establishing and maintaining an adequate system of internal control over financial reporting. The internal control system includes an internal audit function and a code of conduct and ethics, which is communicated to all levels in the organization and requires all employees to maintain high standards in their conduct of the corporation's affairs. Such systems are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial information is relevant, reliable and accurate and that the company’s assets are appropriately accounted for and adequately safeguarded. Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in "Internal Control – Integrated Framework" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the company's system of internal control over financial reporting was effective as at December 31, 2008.

KPMG LLP has audited the consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards.

The board of directors annually appoints an audit committee comprised of directors who are not employees of the corporation. This committee meets regularly with management, the internal auditor and the shareholders' auditors to review significant accounting, reporting and internal control matters. Both the internal and shareholders' auditors have unrestricted access to the audit committee. The audit committee reviews the financial statements, the report of the shareholders' auditors, and management’s discussion and analysis and submits its report to the board of directors for formal approval.